Suspect succumbs in officer-involved shooting after firing at man and police officer

Photo provided by the Long Beach Police Department showing bullet hole in windshield of police vehicle after an April 19 officer-involved shooting

On Thursday, April 19, 2012, at approximately 12:02am, officers from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) responded to a shooting in the area of Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue that resulted in a murder and an officer-involved shooting, according to a press release issued by the LBPD.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, a black male in his 30s, was on the sidewalk of Pacific Avenue when the suspect, who was standing nearby, opened fire on him, striking him in the upper body. A patrol officer in the area heard the shots and drove to the scene, where the suspect was walking away. As the officer was preparing to stop his vehicle to contact the suspect, a white male in his 60s, the suspect fired at least two rounds at the officer. One round hit the windshield of the car, and another round hit the hood, narrowly missing the officer who was still in the car. Moments later, an officer-involved shooting occurred, and the suspect was hit.
The suspect and the victim were both transported to a local hospital in critical condition, but the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased several hours later. The motive for the shooting is unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.
The identity of the victim and the suspect are being withheld due to the ongoing investigation and pending notification of the victim’s death to his next of kin.
As with all “hit” officer-involved shootings, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will be conducting an independent investigation of the incident, in addition to the LBPD’s investigation.
Anyone who may have information regarding this case is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Terri Hubert or Mark Bigel at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting tipsoft.com.